Huang Zhong picked up the great halberd that had been thrown away, took Taishi Ci's precious eagle bow, and walked up to the two of them with a smile.
"A gentleman doesn't take away people's love. Only when he wins is he good, and when he is right, is he a joke. I admire your martial arts very much!"
The two looked at each other, each took the weapon, and then thanked Huang Zhong with a look of shame on his face.
"Brother Huang is truly a gentleman."
Liu Zhang laughed when he saw this, walked up to the three of them, took the hands of several of them, and put them together at the same time.
"You are all my arms!"
The three of them also laughed, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.
Time passed day by day, Liu Zhang accompanied Cai Yan every day, and lived happily for a tender year.
Finally, the day of sacrifice came. Liu Yan arranged for Liu Zhang to follow him and find an opportunity to meet Emperor Ling alone.
Ancient sacrifices were very complicated, consisting of more than twenty steps, and each step was divided into several small steps. It took more than half a day to accumulate.
So many things cannot be done by the emperor, so there are many entourages.
Including ministers, guards, eunuchs, etc., there were hundreds of people in total. It was very grand.
Liu Zhang was not interested in any of this. The people who came were all dignitaries whom he did not recognize. The sacrifice was very solemn, and he was not allowed to run around, lest he cause trouble. He just kept waiting.
Three hours later, the sacrifice finally came to an end. Ling Emperor Liu Hong was so exhausted that he hurried to the hall where he had a temporary rest.
Liu Yan hurriedly followed, and seeing no one around, he said to Liu Hong, "Your Majesty, I have something important to report."
"It's Liu Zongzheng. Let's go back to the house and discuss it later."
Liu Hong glanced at Liu Yan, a little dissatisfied. Why are you, Zongzheng, so anxious? Why can't you wait? But he still gave him this face.
"No." Liu Yan followed Liu Hong to the house. But not only these two people entered the house, but also the eunuch Zhang Rang, Liu Hong's favorite.
Liu Hong was leaning on the cave, and Zhang Rang was waiting for him to drink tea. Liu Yan stood aside respectfully, lowering his head and saying nothing.
"Father, please go and rest for a while. I'll call you if something happens."
Liu Hong didn't say anything when he saw Liu Yan. Knowing that Liu Yan wanted to talk to him alone, he sent Zhang Rang away first.
"No." Zhang Rang slowly withdrew and gave Liu Yan a deep look before leaving.
Seeing that there was no one else in the room, Liu Yan bowed and saluted.
"Your Majesty, Liu Zhang, the son of a humble minister, has been determined to serve the country since he was a child. Four years ago, he went to Beihai alone to study with the great scholar Zheng Xuan. Now that he has returned, I have something important to report to your majesty in person."
Liu Hong became even more unhappy when he heard this. He wondered why Liu Yan had so many things to do, and he couldn't just say it. His tone was already very stern.
"Liu Zongzheng, don't you see that I'm tired? If anything happens, just say it! If nothing happens, just step back!"
When Liu Yan saw that Liu Hong was angry, he was so frightened that he quickly knelt down and clasped his head with his hands.
"Your Majesty, if it is not a major matter concerning the survival of the country, I would not dare to disturb Your Majesty!"
"What! The survival of the country? What nonsense are you talking about!"
When Liu Hong heard this, he became even more angry. He stood up and pointed at Liu Yan and scolded him.
"Your Majesty, how dare you talk nonsense? Your Majesty, please see my son!"
Liu Yan was so frightened that he was sweating profusely. His forehead was pressed to the ground and he did not dare to raise his head at all.
"Okay, declare it. But I will say something ugly first! If you can't say anything, you can figure out the consequences yourself!"
Seeing how persistent he was, Liu Hong was worried that something was really going on, so he agreed. However, he also warned Liu Yan.
After Liu Zhang received an audience with Liu Hong, he trotted forward and entered the house with his head lowered. He knelt on his knees in front of Liu Hong, bowed his head and bowed.
"Young man Liu Zhang, please pay homage to my emperor. Long live my emperor. Long live my emperor."
"oh?"
"Long live long live, that's right, haha Liu Zongzheng, I like your son very much, haha. Get married."
Liu Zhang's small flattery immediately made Liu Hongxi smile and no longer blame Liu Yan.
Liu Yan also breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that Liu Hong would punish him directly without seeing Liu Zhang.
Liu Zhang stood up slowly and raised his head to look at Liu Hong.
This Liu Hong has a fat head and big ears, and his face is greasy. He is leaning on the couch. It can be said that he is as cowardly as possible and does not have the temperament of an emperor at all.
If placed in the 21st century, he would be a proper loser. But now, he is the emperor, the emperor who can decide the lives and deaths of thousands of people with just one word.
"The common people wish your Majesty long live long live, and we, the Han Dynasty, also wish long live."
Liu Zhang stood up and bowed again. Liu Hong enjoyed the horse so much that he forgot that Liu Zhang was busy and just laughed.
"But now someone wants to destroy the centuries-old foundation of our Han Dynasty."
Liu Zhang ignored Liu Hong's laughter and asked the question directly.
"What?"
"Who is so bold!"
When Liu Hong heard this, he immediately stopped laughing and became furious.
"Your Majesty, does he know the way to peace?"
Liu Hong frowned and shook his head slightly. He only cares about having fun every day, how could he know the Tao of Peace?
Liu Zhang said: "Taipingdao was founded by Zhang Jiao. This man was very good at bewitching the people. Under the guise of treating people, he used Fu Shui to save people."
"First ask the sick person what his faults are and let him sincerely repent."
"If it is just a minor illness, it will be cured without any treatment. If you drink this talisman water, you will be fine."
"If a person is seriously ill, drinking the talisman water will be useless and he will naturally die. Zhang Jiao will say that this person is not sincerely repentant."
"After years of development, there are hundreds of thousands of believers in every state and county."
Liu Hong was slightly surprised, but he still didn't take it seriously. The Han Dynasty had a population of more than 50 million, so what could be done with hundreds of thousands of people?
"Not only that, Zhang Jiao has gathered in Jingzhou, and the people from Yangzhou are going to Jizhou to prepare for a rebellion. Luoyang also has internal support!"
"What!"
"How do you know who the guilty party is?"
Liu Hong stood up immediately when he heard the word "rebellion", and his tone was a little frightened. He could ignore the hundreds of thousands of believers, but he had to pay attention to the hundreds of thousands of people who rebelled. How many soldiers and horses are there in Luoyang now?
"I came back from Beihai and learned about it on the way."
Liu Zhang looked at the panicked Liu Hong and said, "My name is Ma Yuanyi, and he is a disciple of Zhang Jiao."
Liu Hong looked at Liu Zhang with cold eyes and said, "Why don't you report in the morning?"
Liu Zhang was also frightened, knelt down and said aggrievedly:
"Your Majesty, it's not just the common people who refuse to retaliate, but it involves many officials and even His Majesty's personal attendants."
Liu Hong nodded, asked Liu Zhang to get up, and then called Zhang Rang.
"Father, please notify Luoyang immediately to arrest Ma Yuanyi and interrogate him strictly. Be sure to ask about Taiping Dao!"
Liu Hong thought for a while and added another sentence.
"You should handle this matter yourself, never entrust it to others!"
"Nuo" Zhang Rang saw that Liu Hong was so nervous and did not dare to delay, so he hurried forward.
"Your Majesty, the common people have practiced martial arts since childhood and are dedicated to serving Your Majesty. If there is trouble on Taiping Road, I am willing to go and fight against it!"
Liu Zhang saw that the time was almost ripe, so he recommended himself.
Liu Hong looked at Liu Zhang and nodded, without agreeing, but just smiled.
"As expected of a descendant of our great ancestor, a good son of my Han family. It's hard to forgive these humble people. You should go back first. After you find out, you will be rewarded."
Liu Zhang originally thought that with such great achievements, he would definitely get what he wanted, but unexpectedly Liu Hong refused directly.
Seeing that Liu Zhang was still asking for orders, Liu Yan quickly stopped him, resigned to Emperor Ling, and then led Liu Zhang out.